This acid attack victim had to wait 36 hours to get medical help

For 36 hours, 22-year-old Devesh ran from pillar to post at various hospitals with a near-melted back and a disfigured left ear, after three perpetrators reportedly threw a jug of acid on him on Wednesday night.

Devesh and Deepu were trying to resolve a dispute when they were allegedly attacked by factory workers, who threw a jug of acid at them.(HT File)

For 36 hours, 22-year-old Devesh ran from pillar to post at various hospitals with a near-melted back and a disfigured left ear, after three perpetrators reportedly threw a jug of acid on him on Wednesday night. Devesh, an embroidery worker at an export house, was one among five injured in an acid attack at a chemical factory in Chotpur village near Sector 63.

According to the police, an altercation ensued between factory workers and a nearby kiosk owner, Rajan, following which the workers allegedly threw acid on the kiosk owner and his friends. Devesh was present to settle the argument. Deepu, a 19-year-old who was also trying to settle the dispute, suffered injuries.

Devesh’s friends ferried him on a motorcycle and a car from his residence in Chotpur village to the nearby Chetram Hospital on Wednesday night and then to the district hospital on Thursday and Friday. They alleged that the district hospital authorities refused to admit him on Thursday and they had to wait till Friday noon to admit.

“The skin tissue on his back was melted due to the attack and we could see his bones. We first took him to a private hospital near Sector 63 where they applied an ointment and cleaned his wounds. We then reached the district hospital on Thursday afternoon but the authorities refused to admit him. He was in great pain but had to wait all night to get admitted to the hospital,” Kundan, his friend, said.

On Friday, the hospital staff dressed his wounds and admitted him to the surgical ward. The hospital surgeon, Dr PK Das, declined to comment on the state of Devesh’s health and said, “He is out of danger but the impact of burn and infection cannot be determined now.”

The hospital administration came under fire from the victim’s family for their alleged refusal to admit the acid attack victims. However, chief medical superintendent Nagendra Mathur rubbished the allegations saying that the hospital staff did their duty.

“When they approached us, we treated them immediately and a doctor was consulted to know whether they needed immediate admission to the hospital ward. It was decided that they didn’t need to be admitted immediately. We duly admitted them the next day,” Mathur said.

Lying on the hospital bed and covered in dressing, Devesh is worried that his injuries will leave him unfit to work for at least six months.

“I live in a rented flat in Chotpur and my job at export house hardly pays me Rs12,000 per month. I had approached the drunkards only to settle the quarrel but they responded in this manner. We thought that they played a prank on us by pouring water but after a few seconds, my mind went numb,” Devesh said.

Devesh, who is from Kannauj district, said that he has not informed his parents about the attack.

“They have always lived in the village and I left Kannauj around eight years ago. I don’t want to trouble them by informing them of the attack. I am trying to manage it on my own and I hope some of my friends will help me,” Devesh said.

Deepu is also lying on the hospital bed covered in bandages. The perpetrators had thrown acid on the left side of his face, disfiguring it. Deepu has studied till Class 12 and was helping his elder brother run a dish antenna shop.

His father says that the attack has snatched away a breadwinner for the family.

“My son went there to settle the quarrel but became the victim. He has been scarred for life now. Shouldn’t he be given a compensation as he was unfortunate enough to be present on the spot,” Ashok Sharma, Deepu’s father, said.

Following the attack, the police lodged an FIR against two accused on Thursday and arrested them.